There is something to be said for growing up in the "burbs" and yet being able to milk a cow, hold a newborn kid goat, and understand where your food comes from. These are just a few of the wondrous things that are taught at the Pierce Farm and in the Pre-veterinary program at Pierce College.
To someone who has always held the dream of becoming a Veterinarian the Pre-veterinary program provides an opportunity to have hands on experience with a variety of animals, large and small. A student might get to assist in nursing a sick pig back to health; or get to go behind the scenes at a local zoo and experience the animals from a different perspective. The ethics of the veterinary field can be explored and then understood from every angle. The program also encourages its students to seek employment in local veterinary clinics where again, they get to experience Veterinary Medicine first hand. It also provides a wonderful jumping off point for its students allowing them the opportunity to immediately go on to prestigious Veterinary Colleges such as UC Davis and others across the United States.
For everyone in our community the Pierce Farm and its programs are a way to teach us. In a society where most children don't understand that there food does not just magically appear on the shelves of the grocery store or at their car window while driving through the fast food restaurant, it provides an understanding of where our food actually comes from. Our state is one of this countries largest agriculturally; and in order to preserve it our children must know how and why it got to be that way.
The Pierce Farm and Pre-veterinary program are near and dear to me because from a very young age I had that dream of becoming a Veterinarian. At the age of 42 the Pre-veterinary program at Pierce College brought me closer to it than ever before. Although I subsequently had to retire from the Veterinary field due to a congenital back condition, the 6 years that it afforded me were some of the happiest days of my life. I will forever remember the wisdom imparted upon me by Dr. Shapiro. The wonder of working with animals such as cows, goats, pigs, rabbits, cats and dogs was so precious.
Everyone who has this dream deserves to be able to pursue it, and yet due to state budget cuts in education the Pierce Farm is in danger. The number of animals have been reduced in order to insure their proper care. The cuts have also made it necessary to reduce staff on the farm. This one of a kind program for Southern California must not go by the wayside.
As a community, we must step in and help in any way we can. Adopt a cow through the Pierce College Foundation, and by all means, make a family day out of the annual Farm Walk which will be held this year on April 22 and only costs $5 for a day filled with wonderment, food and fun. For more information on how you can help go to: http://foundation.piercecollege.edu/
